NanoMaxx™ changes respiratory patient management in Welwyn

The portability and ease of use of SonoSite’s NanoMaxx™ point-of-care ultrasound systems have enhanced management of pleural effusions at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (QEII) in Welwyn Garden City. Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr She Lok explained: “Aspiration and drainage of pleural effusions has traditionally been conducted by clinicians on the relevant ward, with the presence and position of fluid determined primarily by clinical assessment, assisted by a chest x-­ray. This strategy could easily lead to dry taps – causing unnecessary discomfort for patients – or inappropriately placed drains, which could potentially be dangerous. To deal with this issue, we have modified the clinical pathway for dealing with suspected pleural effusions, introducing bedside ultrasound scanning to improve patient care.”

“Because this service can be required anywhere in the hospital, we needed a portable, sturdy instrument, and SonoSite’s NanoMaxx system is well suited to the job. It is easy to use and provides good image quality, allowing us to perform real-time imaging for diagnosis and needle guidance. The introduction of these systems has also allowed us to change the way pleural effusions are managed, with all cases now dealt with by a member of the Respiratory Medicine team trained in chest ultrasound. This has accelerated diagnosis and treatment, ensuring we provide the best possible care for our patients. It has also virtually eliminated the need to transport these patients around the hospital for an ultrasound scan, reducing the pressure on our busy Radiology Department.”

SonoSite, Inc. (http://www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology and impedance cardiography equipment. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by fourteen subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. SonoSite’s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care.

SonoSite, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of SonoSite, Inc. based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, oversees a direct sales distribution network in the UK and provides sales and marketing support for SonoSite's European offices.

Publications

Taking Healthcare IT into the next phase ‘, Digital trans-formation and the
transition to value based care are pushing care providers to change their
patient experience approach. Patients today desire the same customization
and digital services in healthcare as they receive across retail and other
industries.